Poland has experienced balloons used to smuggle cigarettes from Belarus crossing into its airspace for a third consecutive night, raising security concerns at the Polish eastern border. Polish authorities view these incidents as part of a hybrid threat posed by Belarus in coordination with Russia. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces reported these balloon incursions as reconnaissance and reaction tests on Polish air defense systems. Armed Forces spokesman Jacek Grynkiewicz noted that balloon incidents increased in early 2025 compared to late 2024, possibly due to political decisions in Minsk or smugglers adapting to Polish border controls. Polish military assesses that recent incidents threaten Polish airspace security, leading to civil aviation restrictions near the Belarus border. The Belarusian embassy in Warsaw did not respond to requests for comment. Poland, Lithuania, and other Baltic countries accuse Belarus and Russia of hybrid warfare tactics including migration crises, sabotage, espionage, and use of balloons. In January 2025, Poland heightened alert after detecting increased UAV activity over the Poland-Belarus border and summoning the Belarusian envoy. Maciej Wojewódka of the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry stated Belarus denies knowledge or control over these actions. Lithuania declared a national emergency in December 2024 after meteorological balloons from Belarus violated Lithuanian airspace, causing airport closures that stranded thousands. Lithuanian officials consider these balloon activities a 'Belarusian hybrid attack,' while Belarusian President Lukashenko called it a 'mad scam' and alleged hybrid warfare by Lithuania against Belarus.

Poland has experienced balloons used to smuggle cigarettes from Belarus crossing into its airspace for a third consecutive night, raising security concerns at the Polish eastern border. Polish authorities view these incidents as part of a hybrid threat posed by Belarus in coordination with Russia. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces reported these balloon incursions as reconnaissance and reaction tests on Polish air defense systems. Armed Forces spokesman Jacek Grynkiewicz noted that balloon incidents increased in early 2025 compared to late 2024, possibly due to political decisions in Minsk or smugglers adapting to Polish border controls. Polish military assesses that recent incidents threaten Polish airspace security, leading to civil aviation restrictions near the Belarus border. The Belarusian embassy in Warsaw did not respond to requests for comment. Poland, Lithuania, and other Baltic countries accuse Belarus and Russia of hybrid warfare tactics including migration crises, sabotage, espionage, and use of balloons. In January 2025, Poland heightened alert after detecting increased UAV activity over the Poland-Belarus border and summoning the Belarusian envoy. Maciej Wojewódka of the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry stated Belarus denies knowledge or control over these actions. Lithuania declared a national emergency in December 2024 after meteorological balloons from Belarus violated Lithuanian airspace, causing airport closures that stranded thousands. Lithuanian officials consider these balloon activities a 'Belarusian hybrid attack,' while Belarusian President Lukashenko called it a 'mad scam' and alleged hybrid warfare by Lithuania against Belarus.